Allison Malo

Mrs. Coco

ENGL 1102

2/14/10
Public School vs. Private School
I grew up in West Palm Beach, FL. The 8 yrs I lived there, I went to private school. My pre-
school focused on making us proficient readers. Our day mostly consisted of learning things, most learn
in kindergarten. I stayed at this private school till the first grade and was transferred to a catholic
private school. St. John’s was a strict and prestigious school. Even though we were little kids, we were
expected to act as adults. The nuns did not let us get out of hand, I hated it. When I was 8 I moved to
North Carolina and went to a public school. I think that private school and public school are,
tremendously, academically different. Do private schools really produce more intelligent and hard
working students?

Private school was my positive sponsor of literacy. I was pushed to my fullest capability and
encouraged to do the most I could possibly do. Private school teachers, I think, focus more on the
individual student more. My private pre-school teacher spent time with each of us and focused on
our needs. Throughout pre-school and kindergarten, I was learning on a 1 st grade level. Our teacher
made sure we didn’t goof off or act out in class. With these strict guidelines it taught me to stay
focused and kept me on track.

When I was in the 2nd grade my parents put me in a private catholic school. The discipline at St.
John’s was outrageous. I honestly think public schools should be able to implement these discipline
skills. Maybe instead of disruption in the class room learning will actually take place. Some rules
consisted of no talking in the hall way, we had to say ma’am and sir, and there were just a lot of
rules dealing with respect. Every Wednesday we had to go to the chapel, in school, and have 30
minutes of communion. Communion, an exchange of religious thoughts and emotions, was very
beneficial to me. In a sense, communion was a reading sponsor, reading the bible helped me
become a better reader. Just like Shakespeare, the bible is not always clear and straight forward;
you have to comprehend what the bible is trying to say.

I moved to Troutman, North Carolina when I was 8 years old and was put into public school, in
the 3rd grade. Public school was very different. Teachers were more focused on cramming the
required material down your throat, than actually making sure you comprehended the information.
Public school was beneficial, in the sense that they had a program called A.C. (accelerated reader);
which gave you points on the difficulty and how many books you read, prizes were awarded at the
end of each semester.

Since I was able to be introduced to both scenarios; I feel if having the opportunity, parents
should put their children in private schools. Private schools focus more on the individual and
children normally come out with a better education. At my high school, we had some kids who went
to private and others who went to public elementary/middle school, almost every student who
Allison Malo

Mrs. Coco

ENGL 1102

2/14/10
went to private school went to a four year university. Growing up in a small town, religion was very
important. Public schools must follow state standards regarding how and what can be taught.
Certain subjects such as religion and sexual practices are not allowed. Public schools are held to
these standards because of previous court cases that prevent these topics to be presented. Public
schools and private schools are extremely different and can shape a child’s literacy experience but
can the environment/region influence a child?

Also, I believe that the region you grow up in is a factor to how adequately literate you are.
Northern schools are push students to higher standards. A classmate of mine came from New York
to Troutman, NC. When he arrived at our school he felt so far ahead of us because the things we
were being taught, he had learned last year. Northern schools normally fall higher in rankings than
southern schools, mainly in the northeastern region of North America. You would think that being
the same country the same curriculum would be taught.

I strongly believe that the community you grow up in effects your oral communication skills.
Growing up in the south I have acquired the common words such as “ya’ll, ain’t, etc.” This is straight
forward evidence that the region that you grow up in effects the way you communicate. Most, if
not all, northerners would never be caught using these condensed words. Communities, I believe,
are a key source sponsor in the way we speak. If you grow up around a certain type of language you
become accustomed to it and use it in your everyday speech.

I think parent/future parents should consider how they want their children to be raised. There
are many different sponsors of literacy some positive and some negative. It is up to you to decide
the path you choose for your children. Even through, what I consider, negative sources I have
learned some sort of literacy. How are you going to influence your child’s literacy experience?